Bottle-cooler.



Patented Dec. 3|,190I.

A. W. PUFFER.

BOTTLE COOLER.

(Application filed July 19, 1901.)

(No Model.)

STATES rice.

PATENT ALVIN w. PUFFER, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEPUFFER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.-

BOTTLE-COOLER.

SPEQIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,076, dated December1901'- Application filed July 19, 1901. Serial No. 68,872, (1% d l.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN W. PUFFER, of Medford, county of Middlesex,and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inBottle-Coolers, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a bottlecooler adapted to he used inconjunction with soda-water-dispensing apparatus, the invention relatingto that class of apparatus in which the syrups are contained in bottles,which are kept in a stand or holder and exposed to a suitable coolingmedium.

The object of the invention is to obtain a bottle-cooler in which theseveral bottles may be inclosed in a cooled space, containing, for

example, an ice-tank, and each bottle rendered accessible withoutleaving the cooled space open to the action ofthe external heat, so thatthe ice is preserved while the bottle is in use, the bottles when not inuse being inclosed in the cooled space and protected from the heat ofthe outer air.

In accordance with the invention the stand or holder which contains thebottles is arranged to inclose the cooling medium and is provided withan individual pocket for each bottle, each of said pockets beingprovided with an inclosing wall orcasingadapted when the pocket is inits normal position to inclose the bottle and when the pocket is inabnor- Ina-l position to shut off the opening from the cooling-chamber.As herein shown, each bottle holder comprises a cylindrical shellmounted for rotation in the stand or holder, which has wall -sectionsbetween adjacent shells, and the wall of each of the said shells extendsfar enough around to cover or close the space between adjacentwall-sections, but not far enough to prevent the insertion or removal ofthe bottle. As shown, each shell is substantially the size of the bottleand the wall extends about half around to expose the bottle, so thatwhen the bottle pocket Or shell is turned half around to expose thebottle the wall of the shell closes the space behind the bottle, andwhen the bottle-pocket is turned back to normal position the wall closesthe space in front of the bottle, the bottle, however, being exposed tothe cooling medium.

A further feature of the invention consists in the combination, with thebottle-pockets arranged as described, of an annular rotatable stand orholder surrounding the cooling medium, so that by turning the stand anybottie-pocket desired can be brought to a convenient position for theremoval and use of the bottle.

Figure 1 is a View, partly in section and ,partly in elevation, of anapparatus embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section ofthe same.

In accordance with the invention the bot tle-pockets a, which containthe syrup-bottles A, are mounted in the frame 6, shown as having upperand lower members suitably connected together and arranged to rotate,the lower member being shown as mounted on balls or other antifrictiondevices 19 traveling in a ball-race 0 formed in a support 0, which isshown as project-ing laterally from an internal chamber 0 arranged to befilled with ice or other cooling mixture, which is suitably confined byawall a herein shown as having openings or perforations. The lower memberof the support I) is shown as provided with a flange or skirt portion bwhich overhangs and incloses the support 0, and the said support 0 isprovided at its upper end with an overhanging cover 0 which projectsbeyond the pockets at and covers the tops thereof, the said cover 0being shown as connected with the internal cooling-chamber 0 The upperand lower members of the rotatable support I) are shown asconnectedtogether by wall-sections 12 each of which extends from one of thepockets at to the next, so that in conjunction with the said pockets thesaid wall members I) afford a substantially closed case surrounding thecooling-chamber 0 Each of the pockets a consists of a base a and top acircular in shape, and a wall, whichv is shown as substantiallysemicylindrical, thus affording a space for the removal of the bottlefrom the pocket, which bottle fits the base portion and is held in placeby the flange a which extends wholly around the base portion a The saidbottle-pockets are so arranged with relation to the wall-sections b thatone end of the wall of each pocket lies in contact with one of thewall-sections b when the pockets are closed, the next wallsection blying against the side of the wallsection of the pocket a, so that oneof the said wall-sections constitutes a stop for the pocket when turnedupon its pivotal bearing in the member I), one edge of the cylindricalwall coming in contact with the side of the wallsection when the bottleis exposed and the other edge coming in contact with the other side whenthe bottle is closed in.

Referring to the lower portion of Fig. 2, the left-hand pocket 0. isshown as closed and the right-hand pocket is shown as open, each pocketbeing provided with a handle or finger piece a for rotating the pocketaround its axis. By moving the finger-piece (1- to the right, asindicated in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the wall of the pocket will bemoved around until it closes the space between the adjacentwall-sections b leaving the open portion of said pocket exposed for theremoval of the bottle, the cooling-chamber 0 however, being protectedfrom the external air, as indicated in said Fig. 2, where the right-handlower pocket is shown as open.

The wall-section b is arranged to extend into the opening in the wall ofthe pocket at, so as to constitute a stop therefor in either position,as above stated, and the closed portion of the pocket is of such extentas to close the opening in either position of the pocket, whether thebottle is exposed or within the chamber. Each of the pockets may beprovided on its outer wall with a label, indicating the kind of syrupiuclosed, and the carrier b for the pockets may be rotated easily untilthe pocket desired is in a convenient position, after which the pocketmay be rotated by means of the handle a, thus exposing the bottle, butat the same time inclosing the cooling-chamber, so as to prevent wasteof ice by contact with the external air.

The bearings for the pockets are shown as projections a from the outersurfaces of the lower members a the said projections entering openingsin the lower annular member of the support I), while the pockets bear atthe top on pins or projections a, which may be inserted through theupper annular member of the support 12, thus facilitating the assemblingof the parts.

In order to keep the pockets open or closed, the support bis shown asprovided with yielding projections b which may be formed by bending upportions of a spring I)", supported on the lower member-of the saidsupport 1), these projections yieldingly pressing against the bottoms aof the several pockets, which in turn are provided with recesses (1properly positioned to receive the projections b when the pockets arewholly open or wholly closed.

The pressure of the yielding projections is sufi'icient to prevent thepockets from opening accidentally, but is easily overcome by pressure onthe handles (1 so that the pocle ets can be readily manipulated whendesired.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificconstruction and 'arrangemen t shown and described,since modificationsmay be made without departing from the invention. It is obviouslyimmaterial, for example, how the cooling-chamber is arranged or shapedso far as relates to the combination therewith of the pockets, saidpockets being easily adaptable for use in connection with any chamberwhich should be kept always closed to prevent waste.

I claim 1. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination with a rotatableframe having a wall provided with openings therein; of a stationaryreceptacle for a cooling medium inclosed within the said wall, therebeing an annular space between the chamber and the wall; a rotatablepocket or support for a bottle in each opening in the said wall; and aninclosing shell for each pocket extending from one side of the saidopening to the other to.close said annular space, as set forth.

2. In a dispensing apparatus, the combina-- tion with a stationarysupport for a cooling medium; of a rotatable annular frame extending androtating around the said support, said frame having wall-sections toinclose the said support; and bottle-pockets rotatably mounted in saidframe, each pocket having a cylindrical wall extending partially aroundit, to close the space between adjacent wallsections, as set forth.

3. The combination with a cooling-cha n ber provided with an annularcover above and an annular support below; of a rotatable framesurrounding said chamber, said frame comprising annular upper and lowermembers connected together by wall-sections, the lower member having abearing on said annular support; and pockets for bottles rotatablymounted between said members, each pocket having a cylindrical wallextending partially around it from one wall-section to the next, as setforth.

4. The combination with the cooling-chamber provided with an annularsupport; of a rotatable frame surrounding said chamber and having abearing on the said support; pockets for bottles rotatably mounted insaid frame, each pocket having acylindrical wall extending partiallyaround it;- wall-sectionsbetween adjacent pockets, the cylindrical wallsof the pockets and said Wall-sections completely inclosing thecooling-chamber; and yielding retaining devices for said rotatablepockets, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALVIN W. PUFFER.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. LIVERMORE, J As. J. M-ALoNEY.

Ice

